A zippy Asian herb

Use rau ram to liven up chicken salad

Rau ram (pronounced rau- room) is also known as Vietnamese coriander or mint. But the herb (Polygonum odoratum) is actually a member of the buckwheat family. To my palate, rau ram resembles a blend of coriander and purple basil, with a unique electric zing and curiously pleasant aftereffect. It's a taste adventure to seek out in Southeast Asian markets, many farmers' markets, and, sometimes, supermarkets.